[jpd37]

I have a vintage 1975 307 SBC/350 combination that has been very reliable for a number of years. Last year I started having problems with my starter. When I crank the key to the start position, sometimes the starter would work and sometimes nothing would happen. When nothing happened, I would wack the starter with a hammer and I was off to the reces. This only happened a few times.

I pulled the starter motor and had it tested. It tested fine. So, back on the car. I continuity tested the neutral safety sw. and it tests fine. I found a broken ignition switch actuator arm in the steering column and the switch tested fine, so I thought I had the problem solved. Wrong! I still get nothing out of the starter.

The starter worked fine up until I stored the car last fall. I cannot figure what went bab while the car was just sitting in storage. What have I not checked? Could the starter motor test fine with a bad solonoid?

Frustrated!

[Henry Highrise]

Sounds like a bad solenoid to me.

[docvette]

Doc here,

The Bendix (starter drive unit) May be weak or defective, or you may be having the drive hang up on a Chipped tooth. Electrical testing would not show this..

Next time this happens, crawl under the car, be sure it is in park and the Ebrake is full on, and Carefully jump the Big top terminal on the solenoid to the "S" terminal on the starter. It will be the smaller terminal closest to the block. Be ready for a big spark..this is normal..but be ready for it so you don't jump and bang your head..

If it Cranks, The starter and solenoid are good..you need to trace the "S" wire back to the Ignition switch for loose, broken or burned points along the wire that may be losing power in start..

The Starter itself may need shimming or be slightly out of alignment..what you can try, is , with the starter bolts backed off full tight, but not loose..try and start the car .. if it does , shut it off and do it a few times..then torque the bolts down. That usually self~centers the starter.

Let us know!

Doc

[T-bucket23]

Do you hear a clunk but no turn when you try to sart it. Could be worn or dirty brushes in the starter if you hear it engage (clunk) but not turn. If you hear nothing it may be the solenoid or the ground for the starter could be bad. The aluminum can get oxidised from sitting and may be causing an intermitttant connection. Try docs test to eliminate the wiring, take a look at teh grounds and brushes. The parts store test may not find an intermittant issue.

[jimfulco]

I had one acting like that on a '72 Nova, and the tire tool finally quit working. A new solenoid didn't fix anything, but I put new brushes & bushings in the starter and it's been working fine since. Never quite understood it, but I accept it.

[jpd37]

The problem was a simple one. The neutral safety switch was out of position. It was doing what it is designed to do. I discovered it by inserting a heavy gauge wire into the plug to bypass the switch a I had done before but this time it was after I had replaced the broken parts in the steering column. So all is well. Thanks to everyone for the advice. Sometimes we make our projects more complicated than they need to be by simply assuming or overlooking the obvious or simple things.

Happy Roddin'!

[docvette]

Originally Posted by jpd37

The problem was a simple one. The neutral safety switch was out of position. It was doing what it is designed to do. I discovered it by inserting a heavy gauge wire into the plug to bypass the switch a I had done before but this time it was after I had replaced the broken parts in the steering column. So all is well. Thanks to everyone for the advice. Sometimes we make our projects more complicated than they need to be by simply assuming or overlooking the obvious or simple things.

Happy Roddin'!

Doc here,

Thanks For posting back with the fix!

Glad it was simple , and it works now!

Doc